What's eating my crocus sativus?

Saffron crocus corms are prized by mice, voles, and squirrels, which dig them up and eat them. Above ground, aphids and thrips damage foliage and flowers. Birds may peck at blooms. Use wire mesh baskets at planting to deter rodents — the single most destructive threat to establishing corms.

Corms excavated and eaten underground; plants simply fail to emerge or disappear mid-season Plant corms inside wire mesh baskets or line beds with hardware cloth; set snap traps around the planting area

Freshly planted corms dug up and removed; disturbed soil with no growth the following spring Cover beds with chicken wire or netting immediately after planting; remove it once shoots emerge in autumn

Sticky, distorted foliage; colonies clustered at the base of leaves; can spread virus Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds

Silver-streaked, stippled petals and leaves; tiny dark frass specks visible on flowers Remove heavily infested flowers; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; avoid overhead watering